Winter Season Chapter 71

The part-time worker in charge of the hall tapped their stiff lower back and twisted their body in place, while the Boss sat at the counter, pulled out a ledger, and lit a tobacco pipe. Yihyeon, blinking his dry eyes a couple of times, pressed firmly around his eyes with his thumbs.

“Good work today, everyone. Let’s wrap up quickly and get home before the sun comes up.”

“Yeeess.”

Haewon, drawing out his words, put on rubber gloves and began washing the piled-up dishes. Beside him, Yihyeon looked for a glass towel to wipe the wet cups, but it was nowhere to be seen. Yihyeon looked around and spoke.

“Haewon hyung, do you know where the new glass towels are?”

“Ah, I put those under the counter over there.”

Going to the spot Haewon pointed out, Yihyeon crouched down and began searching through the items. Among the haphazardly stacked things, the towel he was looking for was not visible. While he was rummaging through things like refill receipts and tissues, ding, the sound of the door opening came from the entrance.

“We are closed for business.”

Haewon was speaking while looking toward the entrance. Yihyeon, who had been looking up at Haewon from a crouched position, patted his numbing legs and stood up.

“Hyung, it’s not here….”

As he spoke and shifted his downward gaze, Yihyeon locked eyes with a person who should not be here. A sound escaped from between his red lips before he knew it.

“…Gu Seunghyeok?”

As if he had heard the small murmur barely audible even to the person next to him, Seunghyeok, who was standing at the entrance, approached the bar. At that sight, the gazes of the people preparing to close and the Boss sitting at the counter were focused on him.

“…….”

Seunghyeok didn’t even care about the stares fixed on him and took a seat in front of Yihyeon as if it were only natural. While Yihyeon just stared down at Gu Seunghyeok, wondering what his scheme was, Haewon, who was next to him, spoke up cautiously.

“Excuse me, sir, I’m sorry but we’ve closed for the day….”

At Haewon’s friendly words, Seunghyeok scratched his eyebrow with an annoyed expression. Then, he pulled a wallet from his inner pocket, counted the bills inside, and tossed them down onto the bar table. At a glance, it looked to be about ten fifty-thousand-won bills. Seunghyeok spoke while keeping his eyes fixed on Yihyeon.

“Tell everyone to get out.”

What? Is it someone he knows? Is it Mr. Yihyeon’s guest? While the people inside the bar glanced at each other for a moment at the sudden occurrence, the quick-witted Boss jumped up and hurriedly gathered the bills on the table. Then, stepping backward hesitatingly, he grabbed the arms of Haewon and the part-timer with both hands.

“We’ve extended our business hours by one hour, haha…. Well then, have a great time!”

After giving Yihyeon a wink, the Boss quickly packed his things from the staff room and led Haewon and the part-timer out of the bar. The jingle of the door opening and closing happened in an instant.

“…….”

Even though he had been preparing to close with the others just a moment ago, the situation of being left alone with Seunghyeok in an instant was both flustering and bewildering. As he came to his senses, the jazz music that had been playing in the background the whole time suddenly began to register in his consciousness. Yihyeon stood still, looking down at Seunghyeok, and then narrowed his eyes.

“How did you find out about this place and come here?”

“Give me a glass of Kavalan Sherry. Neat.”

“Don’t you remember me saying we shouldn’t see each other again?”

At Yihyeon’s sharp words, Seunghyeok tilted his head askew. Then, crossing his arms, he lazily looked up.

“As for you, who taught you to disappear after giving a notice like that?”

Seunghyeok, who clicked his tongue with a sharp tsk, continued speaking.

“Yihyeon, I’m the one who decides whether we see each other again or not, not you.”

For a long time, their gazes crossed as if in a staring contest. Seeing Yihyeon with strength in his eyes and a furrowed brow, Seunghyeok let out a small laugh, unbefitting the situation. At that sight, Yihyeon’s brow narrowed further. Something seemed a bit different than usual, but he couldn’t bring himself to ask openly. Yihyeon watched Seunghyeok, who was staring only at him with his chin resting on his hand, then gave a small sigh and took a whiskey bottle from the display shelf.

Thinking that he would have to squeeze extra overtime pay out of the Boss, he poured the liquor into a teardrop-shaped whiskey glass and pushed it toward Seunghyeok.

“Just drink that and go. This isn’t a place for you to be.”

Contrary to the expectation that he would say something more, Seunghyeok silently lifted the glass to his lips. His long fingers tapped rhythmically on the table.

Yihyeon, who had been standing opposite him, wary of what else Seunghyeok might say, also picked up a glass towel when he saw him sitting there without a word.

He must have had a drink somewhere.

Seunghyeok was staring blankly somewhere inside the bar as if lost in thought. Thanks to that, Yihyeon could steal glances at Seunghyeok, who looked quieter and more languid than usual, while wiping the glass.

His usually flashy patterned shirt had about two buttons undone, and his unstyled hair was disheveled, making him look more gentle than usual. Yihyeon pressed his lips together firmly, trying his best not to be conscious of Seunghyeok.

A man who would hate even going near a place like a gay bar must have a reason for seeking him out all the way here at this hour. And as far as he could think, there was only one such reason.

“It really wasn’t me who told Gu Jinhyeok.”

“…….”

“If you came because of that, you’ve got the wrong person.”

“Who said I came because of that?”

Seunghyeok slowly raised his eyes and stared obsessively at Yihyeon. Feeling uncomfortable under the gaze that just watched him without a word, he pointlessly looked down and rubbed the glass.

Shutting his mouth, he checked the clock; there were about 5 minutes left until the hour the Boss mentioned was up. Thinking that he had done enough for the Boss, he gripped the glass towel he was holding tightly.

“Leave now. I have to close—”

“Kwon Yihyeon.”

Seunghyeok cut off the words he had uttered with feigned indifference as he set down the polished glass. When Yihyeon raised his head, he locked eyes with Seunghyeok, who was staring at him.

“Cry.”

“What?”

“Cry once, like you did when you were pinned under me.”

In an instant, he felt as if his face was flushing with shame. Seunghyeok’s expression was too serious for those to be words said just to insult him. Yihyeon bit his lip hard and glared at Seunghyeok with strength in his eyes.

“Don’t say weird things and get out. We’re closed.”

There was likely nothing more meaningless than getting worked up alone at a blank, expressionless face. Strength entered his hand holding the glass. After biting the inside of his cheek hard, he looked away and turned his head, when a low voice pierced his ears.

“The other bastards are disgusting, but.”

“…….”

“Fuck, why are you…?”

Even though it was a small mutter as if talking to himself, and even though loud jazz music was flowing through the shop, that small voice was heard clearly.

Even though he heard it perfectly, he couldn’t gauge its meaning. When he turned his head back toward where Seunghyeok sat, he saw the hand resting on the table clench into a fist and then unfurl.

Seunghyeok, who pulled bills from his wallet and placed them on the table, left the shop just like that without a word. Only then did it feel like his blocked windpipe opened up.

Even though they had only been facing each other for a short while without conversation, the feeling of being completely drained must be because he was excessively tense.

In front of the table where only an empty glass and a few fifty-thousand-won bills remained lonely, Yihyeon swallowed hard and clenched his fists tight.

Since it was a finish an hour later than usual, Yihyeon quickly finished cleaning only the inside of the bar and came down the stairs. As soon as he locked the shop door and turned around, he saw a red light floating in the air a few paces ahead. His eyes, having adjusted to the darkness late, recognized the owner of the cigarette light.

He hadn’t left.

As Seunghyeok sucked on the cigarette until his cheeks hollowed while looking at Yihyeon, the embers at the end glowed red. While he was staring blankly as if it were a goblin fire bewitching people, Seunghyeok slowly approached.

As he stepped backward to avoid the approaching footsteps, the cold wall touched his back. Along with a sensation like goosebumps rising, he locked eyes with Seunghyeok.

“Since I left it as a payment for services.”

“…….”

“I should take that much back with me.”